I was pretty shocked that Jamie went home instead of Leah. It seems to me like not understanding the ingredients in a sauce would be a bigger deal than overcooking some celery.

But I agree with Jesse - these were GREAT challenges and I would like to see more cooking and less wackiness overall.

It baffles me that Leah used to work the fish station at her restaurant back home. BAFFLES.

Tom C says:

Jamie expressed that Eric’s food really didn’t do much for her, and as misguided as that may be, I respect it. As good as Eric is, his work isn’t every chef’s cup of tea. I don’t know whether this affected Jamie’s enthusiasm for the challenge at hand; I do know that it was obvious to all the judges that hers was the weakest dish. That celery was inedible. While we selected the top three and bottom three dishes and discussed them as such, five of the six were actually well done, and the only chef that any of us ever considered sending home that night was Jamie. She knew it, too.

Which isn't how they edited it, but I guess we have to take his word!

Which isn't how they edited it, but I guess we have to take his word!

Not how they edited it at all. Wow. It's a shame, because I think Jamie has real chops, and I think she knew she fucked up, too. In another situation (i.e. not a timed competition), she would have dumped the celery and substituted it, or fixed it.

Leah needs to go next, please god.

And Ripert says:

For example, the black bass, the dish that Jaime had to reproduce, represents our style and philosophy the most and therefore was the most difficult to replicate.

Which makes me wish all the more that Leah had been the one to go. I'm just so sick of her attitude.

[edit: However, he goes on to say,

The black bass recipe was inedible. The celery was an embarrassment and the sauce was burned and way oversalted.]

I had been wondering this, and checked the cast bios to learn (or be reminded) that Stefan was born in Finland, but grew up in Germany. I kept getting confused!

Is there any way he doesn't win this?

well, it would have been nice for them to show us all this. it makes the decision a whole lot more understandable, even if I am fucking tired of Leah.

I thought that they were signalling a loss for either Fabio or Jamie and when Jamie got a dish that she just didn't like - well I figured she would go but I think Leah should just get gone because how can they keep her in when she just GIVES UP. She does not want to be there, she's unenthusiastic about everything that she does and I'm so sick and tired of her.

Okay this:

Oh! Speaking of getting and not getting it, that was a great moment with Ripert and Carla and the non-Bearnaise Bearnaise.

was beautiful. Now want Carla to go all the way.

You know if Stefan wins it will still be better than the year that Ilan won but I just won't like it.

Toby did say that after one bite he didn't want to eat any more. They harped a lot on the celery but obviously there was a lot more wrong than that.

well, it would have been nice for them to show us all this.

My thoughts exactly. As much as I enjoy reading Tom C's blog, it shouldn't be required reading to understand what really went down.

I loved when Carla started talking about having learned classical technique. It was one of the few times she didn't sound dippy, and she backed it up with her dish. I'm hoping getting a few wins/near wins will give her spine a boost as well.

Hey foodies, I was wondering: What is black garlic? I've never heard of it.

Carla has grown on me so much. I mean, yeah, she's a little (okay, a lot) woo-woo, but she's always up for the challenges, and she's always pretty enthusiastic. No drama there, which is refreshing, and she's just funny.

It's good to see her doing something other than dessert, too, and that's where she hasn't spoken up often enough. Just because you *can* do it doesn't mean you should let the others assume you will every time.